Softball Returns to Winning Ways

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -
Santa Clara University softball ended a 10-game losing streak with a 6-4 victory over Loyola Marymount in Pacific Coast Softball Conference action today at Marsalli Park. LMU followed with a 1-0 win in the second game of the doubleheader and is now 28-16 overall, 10-2 in league action. Every Bronco starter notched at least one hit in the game one victory, and the team totaled 11 hits and move their record to 21-28, 4-8.

Loyola Marymount was held to four hits in the loss. Second baseman Margo Pineda made two of those count, hitting back-to-back home runs in the first and third innings. Designated player Casie Phillips accounted for the other two, including a double in the sixth.

Down 1-0, Santa Clara countered in the second to take a 3-1 lead. Centerfielder Jessica Clee doubled to start the frame and was followed by catcher Daisy Mettlach's single. One out later, designated player Sabrina Franks hit an RBI single. Mettlach took advantage of a wild pitch to score and Franks followed on the next play.

The lead was short-lived, as LMU tied the contest in the bottom of the second. With two outs, the Lions loaded the bases with two walks and a single by Phillips. The Bronco outfield dropped a fly ball, allowing Emily Foltz to score. A second error on the play by the Bronco defense brought in Phillips. LMU retook the lead in the third with Pineda's second home run of the contest.

Not to be outplayed, Santa Clara recaptured the lead in the fourth. Clee tied the contest at 4-4 with her team-leading ninth home run of the season, sent over the fence at right center. Outfielder Angela Kabanuck reached on a fielder's choice and after the second out was recorded, consecutive singles from Valerie Mock and Jillian Cassel scored an additional run. Jenny Brown, who led off the game with a double, kept the rally alive with the Broncos' third straight single in the frame.

Santa Clara added an additional run in the sixth. Kabanuck singled to start the inning, advanced to second on a wild pitch and stole third. She scored on Vanessa Werner's RBI single.

Krystal Kehr started in the circle for the Lions and was pulled after 1.1 innings. Tiffany Pagano followed with 4.2 innings of play and took the loss. Samantha Lavino threw in the seventh to close the contest.

In the second game, LMU scored the game-winner in the third. Kayla Meeks singled and scored one out later on Pineda's double. The Lions finished with six hits, including two from Brittany Basset, and Meeks earned her 11th win in the circle, throwing a complete game. Santa Clara finished with four hits, from Werner, Mettlach, Sabrina Franks and Clee. Junior Liz Courter took the loss.

The Broncos remain in league action and will visit Saint Mary's next weekend. Both games start at noon in Moraga. Santa Clara will then return home to host the final games of the regular season, vs. San Diego on April 30 and May 1.